Boris Karloff credited as playing...
Hjalmar Poelzig
- Hjalmar Poelzig: You must be indulgent of Dr. Verdegast's weakness. He is the unfortunate victim of one of the commoner phobias, but in an extreme form. He has an intense and all-consuming horror of cats.
- Hjalmar Poelzig: Come, Vitus, are we men or are we children? Of what use are all these melodramatic gestures? You say your soul was killed and that you have been dead all these years. And what of me? Did we not both die here in Marmorus fifteen years ago? Are we any the less victims of the war than those whose bodies were torn asunder? Are we not both the living dead? And now you come to me, playing at being an avenging angel - childishly thirsty for my blood. We understand each other too well. We know too much of life. We shall play a little game, Vitus. A game of death, if you like. But under any circumstances, we shall have to wait until these people have gone, until we are alone.
- Hjalmar Poelzig: Do you dare play chess with me for her?
- Dr. Vitus Verdegast: Yes. I will even play you chess for her. Provided if I win, they are free to go.
- Hjalmar Poelzig: You won't win, Vitus.
- Hjalmar Poelzig: You must be indulgent with Dr. Werdegast's weakness. He is the unfortunate victim of one of the commoner phobias, but in an extreme form. He has an intense and all-consuming horror of cats.
- Hjalmar Poelzig: Oh, it's nothing. Only an accident in the road below. I want you to stay in this room all day tomorrow Karen. You are the very core and meaning of my life. No one shall take you from me. Not even Vitus, not even your father.